IDFA participated with an exhibit booth at the National Conference of State Legislators’ Legislative Summit in Seattle last week. Ruth Saunders, IDFA vice president of policy and legislative affairs, was on hand to speak directly with state policy makers who wanted to learn more about dairy policy and other issues affecting their states.

For more than 40 years, the annual conference has been the nation’s largest gathering of legislators and staff, and this year more than 5,000 state legislators, legislative staffers and federal officials attended.

Saunders met with attendees to introduce IDFA as an organization and to address the state-specific legislative issues affecting dairy foods companies. IDFA’s booth provided material on the importance of milk as a source of nutrition, the food safety risks associated with expanding the sales of raw milk in state legislation and how the industry is working together to provide millions of gallons of nutrient-rich milk to hungry families through the Great American Milk Drive.

“This was the first time IDFA has exhibited at the NSCL Summit,” said Saunders. “It was a valuable and efficient opportunity to expand awareness of IDFA and the importance of dairy to policy makers at the state level. Attendees were incredibly receptive to learning more about dairy issues and how to involve their own communities in the Great American Milk Drive.”

 NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves all 7,383 state lawmakers and more than 20,000 legislative staff throughout the country. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.

For more information, contact Saunders at rsaunders@idfa.org.